An LPG carrier was struck during an Israeli attack on Houthi-controlled ports in Yemen earlier this month, as reported by The Maritime Executive, citing Pakistani Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi.
It was reported that an Israeli drone hit the vessel on September 17 while it was docked at Ras Isa, causing one of its LPG tanks to explode. Following the blast, Houthi crews boarded the ship and took the crew hostage.
According to Pakistani broadcaster Ary News, the crew initially abandoned the vessel but were forced to reboard by the militants while it was still burning. Crewmembers said the onboard equipment was insufficient for firefighting, and they faced shortages of food and water.
The crew included 24 Pakistanis, two Sri Lankans, and one Nepali. After coordinated efforts involving the Pakistani ambassador to Oman, Saudi authorities, and Pakistan’s security agencies, all seafarers were safely released from Houthi-controlled territory.
While the vessel was not officially named, Pakistani media identified it as the Clipper, a 1995-built LPG carrier formerly known as Eagle Pride. According to Equasis, the ship falsely claims the flag of Guyana, making it effectively stateless. It was reportedly sold to an undisclosed owner in 2023, and its current operator is unknown. The ship is also listed under U.S. counterterrorism sanctions.
The attack came a day after a major Israeli raid on Hodeidah, the main Houthi-controlled seaport, which partially sank one vessel, disabled another, and damaged much of the port’s remaining infrastructure.
